AEW Dynamite opened this week with action in the Continental Classic Tournament. Shelton Benjamin versus Kyle Fletcher in this one. It was a slow feeling out process to begin. They would have decent striking and power moves, but the pace was painfully slow. Fletcher would have a few nice false finishes near the end leading up to his ultimate victory.
Kip Sabian and Nick Wayne would blindside Hook during a promo in the ring for the next segment. Christian Cage would join the fray, and it was a 3-on-1 beatdown. This would conclude with a conchairto to the hand.
The next match was a 12-man battle royal. The first few eliminations were rather boring and uneventful, so let’s take you to the final five – Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Lance Archer, Brian Cage, and The Butcher. The match got better at this point too, as they were able to embellish on the apron spots some more. As the final two, Kyle Fletcher and Adam Cole will face off next week for the right to challenge MJF for his Dynamite Diamond Ring.
The next match would be Swerve Strickland versus Max Caster. Swerve was not a fan of Caster’s trademark opening diss track, and attacked him before the bell. The match would officially start shortly after, and Swerve was in control early. Sadly, this would end up being not much more than a squash match. Swerve would decide this wasn’t enough, and would hit a Swerve Stomp after the bell.
Pac and “Switchblade” Jay White would go 1-on-1 next. Switchblade was in control early, and it was laying it in there nice and stiff too. Pac would mount a comeback when things spilled to the outside, where Wheeler Yuta could give him a hand. It was a great match from here. The pace and reversals were very noteworthy. Pac would distract the referee, and Yuta would get involved again, hitting him with a knee. It would appear Pac would have this wrapped up, but Switchblade would hit a surprising Blade Runner to pick up the victory. The Deathriders would appear, and jump Jay White after the match was over. “Hangman” Adam Page would come to the entrance ramp, which would distract The Deathriders long enough for Orange Cassidy to reveal himself as a cameraman in disguise. Orange and Hangman would then take the fight to Deathriders, leaving them looking weak for the first time that I can remember.
Anna Jay versus Penelope Ford would be next. Anna Jay would win and grab the microphone to call out Mercedes Mone. The two will face off for the AEW TBS Championship in two weeks time.
The main event was another match in the Continental Classic, Claudio Castagnoli versus Brody King. This was physical from the start, and both men would look great. Violent false finishes going both ways, it was hard to tell who was going to take it. Claudio would ultimately win with the help of a low blow.
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